One of the phrases I get tired of hearing the most during the day is “Mommy, I’m hungry!” As the mother two toddlers, I hear that so many times that I can’t even keep track! I serve one morning snack and one afternoon snack, but sometimes it’s hard to keep things interesting. I find myself always going to the same things, like crackers, cheese sticks and fruit.

Awhile back, I decided to change up our routine. I didn’t want to just grab things whenever snack time came around…I wanted a little more variety. And I’m sure my kids wanted more variety as well!

Here are just a few ideas I have added to my ever-expanding snack list. I broke things down into three categories, which makes it easy to alternate.

1. Change It Up
Sometimes simply changing how you serve the snack can make it brand new to kids. Try making fruit kabobs by threading their favorite fruits onto a small straw or stirrer (which are much safer than wooden skewers or toothpicks). The novelty of eating the fruit off of a stick will keep your kids interested and entertained. Instead of cutting apples into the normal slices, cut them into rings and cover them with peanut butter. You can also use cookie cutters to cut shapes into bread for open-faced sandwiches.

2. Make It Healthier
Take some of your kids’ favorite snacks, and find a way to make them healthier. Because they are baked instead of fried, Homemade Sweet Potato Chips are not only better for you than store-bought chips, but you get extra nutrients from the sweet potatoes. Make smoothies, using only fresh fruit and yogurt for a no-sugar-added snack. Or try a vegetable dip made with avocados and cream cheese.

3. Keep It Convenient
We all need convenient foods on hand for those grab-and-go moments. If you don’t have something that is prepared, you’ll be fumbling to find something to feed the little ones. Keep a stock of Nature Valley® Granola Thins or Granola Bars, bags of Chex Mix® or a variety of Larabars®. Make small snack bags of vegetables and store them in the refrigerator for easy access. Or have small bags of crackers and cereal assembled and ready to go. Have designated baskets in your fridge and pantry where you keep the pre-assembled snacks so that they are always easy to find.